Crosby, Stills and Nash

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  • Year:
    1997
  • Inducted by:
    James Taylor
  • Category:
    Performers

Introduction

The voice of a generation sang in impeccable three-part harmony.

Crosby, Stills and Nash took a thoughtful, song-centric approach to music, penning folk hits with messages of change, hope and forward motion.

Hall of Fame Essay

1997

Chet Flippo

When the unprepossessing album Crosby, Stills & Nash was released in 1969, it flew in the face of the pre­dominant rock & roll wisdom of the day. Gentle folkish harmonies going up against mega­wattage Telecasters and Strats?

Forget  it. 

Wistful fairytales about wooden ships on the water competing with smash-your-head- against-the-wall full-blown rock & roll? Not gonna happen, man. No way. Get those wimps outta here! 

Then a funny thing happened. CS&N happened, and happened in a big way. To get back in 1969 in the rock & roll world, that year began as the War of the Guitar Giants. Led by Jimi Hendrix’s blistering attack, decibels were crashing through the ceiling. Eric Clapton had just debuted the much-ballyhooed supergroup Blind Faith with a free  con­cert for 100,000 in London’s Hyde Park.  

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Program Cover 1997
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Crosby, Stills & Nash Quote Image
they were the quintessential vocal group, so complex, sophisticated
James Taylor

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Collection

Bass
David Crosby 1984 Robert Lee Custom Guitar

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Gallery